Comments on: What makes a car steering wheel return to the straight position after turning? http://www.cargearusa.com/blog/what-makes-a-car-steering-wheel-return-to-the-straight-position-after-turning/ Mon, 21 May 2012 19:01:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Joe Ferrero http://www.cargearusa.com/blog/what-makes-a-car-steering-wheel-return-to-the-straight-position-after-turning/comment-page-1/#comment-7611 Joe Ferrero Mon, 07 Sep 2009 05:32:00 +0000 http://www.cargearusa.com/blog/what-makes-a-car-steering-wheel-return-to-the-straight-position-after-turning/#comment-7611 Like mike said, it is part of the steering geometry... The part that you are looking at is caster. A bicycle or motorcycle is a little easier to see caster because it is the angle of the rake of the front forks. If this angle is too perpendicular to the ground, you will get a shaky wheel (like the wheels on the shopping carts). If the angle is too parallel to the ground, the wheel becomes difficult to steer. During a vehicle alignment, Caster, camber, and toe are all adjusted for proper drive-ability and reduced vehicle component wear. If you would like to see more of this, check out "howstuffworks.com" I hope this helps. ~J Like mike said, it is part of the steering geometry… The part that you are looking at is caster. A bicycle or motorcycle is a little easier to see caster because it is the angle of the rake of the front forks. If this angle is too perpendicular to the ground, you will get a shaky wheel (like the wheels on the shopping carts). If the angle is too parallel to the ground, the wheel becomes difficult to steer.

During a vehicle alignment, Caster, camber, and toe are all adjusted for proper drive-ability and reduced vehicle component wear. If you would like to see more of this, check out “howstuffworks.com”

I hope this helps.

~J

]]> By: Brad http://www.cargearusa.com/blog/what-makes-a-car-steering-wheel-return-to-the-straight-position-after-turning/comment-page-1/#comment-7610 Brad Sun, 06 Sep 2009 08:34:37 +0000 http://www.cargearusa.com/blog/what-makes-a-car-steering-wheel-return-to-the-straight-position-after-turning/#comment-7610 It is the same principle as to why your bike tire naturally faces straight forward when you are riding with no hands. When there is forward movement, that is the direction the tire will go when it is given incentive to (pressing the gas or peddaling your bike) The fact that the back tires are always facing straight is also another reason. It is because the car naturally wants to move straight ahead on a flat surface, so if you leave the wheel alone, it will make it's way back there eventually. It is the same principle as to why your bike tire naturally faces straight forward when you are riding with no hands.

When there is forward movement, that is the direction the tire will go when it is given incentive to (pressing the gas or peddaling your bike)

The fact that the back tires are always facing straight is also another reason. It is because the car naturally wants to move straight ahead on a flat surface, so if you leave the wheel alone, it will make it’s way back there eventually.

]]> By: Mike C http://www.cargearusa.com/blog/what-makes-a-car-steering-wheel-return-to-the-straight-position-after-turning/comment-page-1/#comment-7609 Mike C Thu, 03 Sep 2009 01:01:27 +0000 http://www.cargearusa.com/blog/what-makes-a-car-steering-wheel-return-to-the-straight-position-after-turning/#comment-7609 It's due to the geometry of the steering and suspension components. It's the same principal that keep shopping cart wheels from rotating in circles when you push them. It’s due to the geometry of the steering and suspension components. It’s the same principal that keep shopping cart wheels from rotating in circles when you push them.

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